BackGovt looks for ‘time bound progress’ in proposed fresh round of Naga talks
The NDA govt does not want talks to continue ad-infinitum and wants some tangible progress towards reaching a solution to the decades-old insurgency
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New Delhi: The government is looking at “time-bound progress" as it prepares for a fresh round of talks with the main Naga separatist group National Socialist Council of Nagaland- Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM).
A senior government official, with direct knowledge of the matter, said the new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government “does not want talks to continue ad-infinitum" and wants some tangible progress towards reaching a solution to the decades-old insurgency.
The official did not however specify the exact roadmap that the new government has in mind for the new round of talks or whether it had any specific proposals. He also did not specify any dates for the proposed talks.
The NSCN was formed in 1980 with the professed goal of securing a sovereign state of “Nagalim" which would include all Naga-speaking areas of North East India as well as Myanmar.
The rebel group’s demand was strongly opposed by the surrounding neighbouring states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. In 1988, the NSCN split into two groups-the NSCN-IM, led by Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chishi Swu and the NSCN-Khaplang group led by S.S. Khaplang. The NSCN-IM is the more prominent among the two factions.
The Indian government and the NSCN-IM signed a ceasefire agreement in July 1997, renewing it several times till 2007, when it was extended indefinitely.
The last round of talks were held in November last year.
Elizabeth Roche contributed to this story.
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